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Multiple-Meaning Words

A multiple-meaning word is spelled and said the same way but means different things: a bat flies at night, and you hit a ball with a bat. Context is the only clue, which is why these words are such good reading practice.

Here are 116 multiple-meaning words from past ClueBy puzzles, each with a real example sentence for every meaning. Use them as a reference, or make a printable worksheet below.

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Students read each sentence and write the missing word. Every word appears in several sentences, each time with a different meaning.

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Multiple-Meaning Words

Name: ____________________Date: __________

Write the missing word in each sentence. Each word is used more than once, with a different meaning each time.

  1. Michael Jackson and Prince changed the history of ________________ music.
  2. Part of that ________________ required him to leave the singing group.
  3. You can't play pool without a ________________ stick.
  4. Many English words ________________ from Latin.
  5. The big green plant was starting to droop at the ________________.
  6. You don't need to ________________ round.
  7. They watched the sun ________________ below the horizon.
  8. We need to ________________ with this problem right now.
  9. I'll take my ________________ from you.
  10. Which do you like better, ________________ music or classical music?
  11. When I cough twice, that's your ________________ to come into the room.
  12. He refilled his coffee ________________.
  13. I don't want to ________________ the boat.
  14. Borders were drawn on the map using a ________________, with no regard for cultural realities on the ground.
  15. Where did you ________________ them?
  16. Don't make such a big ________________ out of small things.
  17. The people resisted their cruel ________________.
  18. We're almost out of ________________.
  19. Is that Pat Hanrahan's ________________ looking hungry and willing.
  20. A ________________ helps one to draw a straight line.
  21. The ________________ was so hot, it burned my tongue.
  22. We were using a ________________ as a seat.
  23. I like to ________________ a cookie in coffee.
  24. Scientists study ________________ cells to repair damaged tissue.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com

Answer key

  1. pop — music
  2. deal — an agreement
  3. cue — for pool
  4. stem — to come from
  5. stem — of a plant
  6. pop — to visit
  7. dip — to sink
  8. deal — to handle
  9. cue — a hint
  10. rock — music
  11. cue — a signal
  12. mug — a cup
  13. rock — to move gently
  14. ruler — for measuring
  15. mug — to rob
  16. deal — a big deal
  17. ruler — a monarch
  18. pop — soda
  19. mug — a face
  20. ruler — for measuring
  21. dip — a sauce
  22. rock — a stone
  23. dip — to dunk
  24. stem — a stem cell

Multiple-meaning words list

Tick up to 10 words to build a worksheet with just those words.

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Frequently asked questions

What are multiple-meaning words?

Words with the same spelling and pronunciation but more than one meaning, like bark (of a dog or of a tree) or bank (for money or of a river). You can only tell which meaning is meant from the rest of the sentence.

Are multiple-meaning words the same as homonyms?

Mostly, yes. Teachers often use "multiple-meaning words" and "homonyms" for the same idea. Homophones are different: they sound alike but are spelled differently, like flour and flower.

Are the worksheets free?

Yes. Make and print as many as you like for home or classroom use. Each sheet has its own link, so you can print the same one again.

Where do the words come from?

From past ClueBy puzzles, a daily game where you sort twelve sentences by their missing word. A new puzzle every day adds four more words to this list.

Sentences from ClueBy, Tatoeba (CC BY 2.0 FR) and Common Voice (CC0). clueby.com